In honor of the death of the famous chocolatier, Michele Ferrero, here’s a short list of things Nutella-lovers should do if they were to find themselves in Italy.
1. Make your way to Alba, Piedmont.
What better way to start the list off than to travel to the actual place Nutella was invented? Michele Ferrero created his first Nutella jar on the 20th of April, 1964 in his factory in Alba – a quiet town of only 30,000 residents. Alba is located in Piedmont, one of Italy’s 20 regions.
2. Wander through hazelnut trees
Nutella’s main ingredient is of course, hazelnut. Along the countryside you’ll find great numbers of Hazel trees, growing right between the lush green hills of Alba. The harvesting of hazelnuts is done annually in mid-autumn, as the trees begin to drop their nuts and leaves. It would be best, therefore, to visit this town in autumn, so that you can pick up a couple of nuts and eat them.
3. Visit a coffee shop
Even if coffee isn’t your thing, if you order a hot beverage and ask them to put Nutella in it, they will. And you will love them for it. A few of the popular cafe’s are Caffe Calissano and Vincafe.
4. International White Truffle Fair
So this one might not have much to do with Nutella itself, but in the months of October and November Alba holds its annual International White Truffle Fair – and since you might be visiting the city in the fall in time for hazelnut harvesting season anyway, why not check out one of the world’s most famous festivals, too?
The fair starts off with a donkey race, follows through with a medieval parade in which thousands participate in costume, and concludes with the World White Truffle Auction – all truly memorable experiences for tourists.
5. The Ferrero factory
As any tour guide would tell you, stepping inside the Ferrero factory is next to impossible – for health and safety (but mostly secretive) measures. I’ll admit, that is quite a let-down for a die-hard Nutella-lover. However, it is still a great sight to see, and if you get close enough you can smell the delicious chocolate. You can also drive by and see the Ferrero family’s mansion, which is not too far from the factory.
6. Taste test!
It’s a given that you’re in love with Nutella, but hey, you’re in a city that produces hazelnut spreads, why not give another local brand a try? Brands like Novi is also famous for its chocolate, and the Crema Novi is very similar to Nutella. Check it out, maybe you’ll love that more!
Alba is one of the most picturesque locations in the world, with beautiful castles, medieval palaces and towers surrounded by many green hills. One of the important things to keep in mind, however, is that Alba, like the rest of Italy, is famous for its wine and vineyards. To be on the safe side, always ask what ingredients will be used when you eat at any of the restaurants here.
